Carl Haag was a German painter and watercolourist of landscapes, portraits and Eastern subjects. He was born at Erlangen, Bavaria and studied at Nuremberg and Munich. In Brussels, he worked as a miniature painter. When he came to England, in 1847, he continued to paint miniature portraits and started to work as a watercolourist.

In 1854, he visited Dalmatia and Montenegro, and from 1858-60 he made a trip to Cairo, Greece and Turkey, returning to Egypt that November. Here, he shared a house with Frederick Goodall, with whom he undertook many sketching expeditions in the desert. They entertained visiting artists and travellers, and gained quite a reputation for their hospitality. In 1859 he travelled to Jerusalem and the Holy Land in time for the Easter festivals. He stayed in Jerusalem until June, before proceeding on to Samaria, Galilee, Damascus and Palmyra. Haag was able to study the life and character of the desert tribes and made a number of watercolours. He represents the best of the Orientalists, combining artistic skill and ability with a love for the people of the Middle East and the desire to accurately record them.

In 1850, Haag became an Associate of the Royal Watercolour Society. He exhibited at the British Institute, the Fine Art Society, the Grosvenor Gallery, the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool, the Manchester City Art Gallery, the Old Watercolour Society, the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours.